BJP leaders R Ashoka, C T Ravi, B Y Vijayendra, B Sriramulu, Sumalatha Ambareesh, C N Ashwath Narayan during the rally in Mandya, on Tuesday.
Credit: DH Photo
Mandya: The BJP, which launched the 16-day 'Janakrosha Yatre' at CM Siddaramaiah's home turf in Mysuru on Monday, continued to raise the hike in prices and other issues in Mandya, on the second day.
BJP leaders and party workers gathered in front of Sir M Visvesvaraya's statue in Mandya city, and took out a rally, raising slogans against the Congress-led state government.
Speaking on the occasion, MLC and former minister C T Ravi alleged that the Congress government is looting the public money by increasing the prices of around 50 items, including milk, electricity, petrol and others. They have even surpassed the dacoits of Chambal valley in looting, he alleged.
"A few Congress leaders claim that Siddaramaiah is greater than Mysuru Maharajas. The erstwhile king had pledged the gold of his wife for the construction of KRS dam. But Siddaramaiah had usurped 14 MUDA sites in the name of his wife, and has been harassing the erstwhile royal family. Will God forgive him? Will those looting property become equal to Maharaja?" he asked.
Leader of Opposition in legislative Assembly R Ashoka said, "If a film is made on the looting of Siddaramaiah government, it will definitely run for 100 days. The DCM had said that people of Mandya are 'Chatris'. The people of Mandya should prove that they are not 'chatris' but 'chakravarthies' in the elections. It is Tamil Nadu CM Stalin who is opposing the Mekedatu project. Is he not ashamed to go there and hug him? They are displaying double standards," he alleged.
Ashoka alleged that water is being released to Tamil Nadu, to please the Congress ally DMK. But the villages situated in the tail end of the VC Canal in Mandya district are not getting water, he criticised.
"Instead of taking action against those involved in Nagamangala and Udayagiri riots, the officials have been suspended. This is the achievement of the Congress government. Would the country have survived without Modi?" he asked.
Ashoka asked the people, "Who has looted in the name of milk, electricity, diesel and Muda?" For this, the party workers shouted 'Lootappa Lootappa Siddaramaiah Lootappa'. The 'Kalla-Malla' team has betrayed the people and is sucking the blood like mosquitoes and bed bugs. While B S Yediyurappa said equal share for all, Siddaramaiah said all share is for Muslims."
Pointing at CM Siddaramaiah's statement that the union government's hike in fuel price is a slap on the face of the BJP, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra asked, "Whom should be given 'Kapala moksha'? To Siddaramaiah's government, which has hiked the price of more than 50 essential commodities, or the Narendra Modi-led Union government, which has implemented several welfare programmes for the people? The people, who have been burdened by the price rise know what to do."
Former CM D V Sadananda Gowda, former ministers B Sriramulu and C N Ashwath Narayan, former MP Sumalatha Ambareesh and MLC Ravikumar participated. BJP leader and former minister K C Narayana Gowda, who has been maintaining distance from the party since a year, also participated in the rally.
Sumalatha participates in yatre
Former Independent MP and BJP leader Sumalatha Ambareesh was seen in the Janakrosha Yatre in Mandya on Tuesday. It may be mentioned that Sumalatha stayed away from political events and programmes for more than a year. She had not even campaigned for the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate H D Kumaraswamy during the Lok Sabha election in 2024.
On Tuesday, she took part in the BJP yatre in Mandya. Speaking on the occasion, she said, "The people now understand the intention behind the Congress' free guarantees. By saying that they have fulfilled their poll promises, the government has been hiking the prices of commodities and also imposing taxes. The people belonging to the economically weaker section are worried".